IF John Kirwan had ever done a Steve Hansen and put the performance before the result, they would probably have re-opened Rome's Coliseum for business and fed him to the Lions.

At least that's the view of Peter Rogers, the former Wales, Cardiff and Newport prop who has just returned from a truncated spell in Italian rugby with Roma.

Rogers cut short his planned two-year spell in the Eternal City because of family commitments.

But he was there long enough to be able to offer a true insight into the state of the game in a nation that, when it comes to sport, understands only one concept - victory.

"Over there it is all about results, results and results again," he said.

"John Kirwan's public image is probably about 50-50, half of them are for him, half against.

"They know they have to be more realistic about the rugby as opposed to the football, but there's no question of them ever being satisfied with any defeat.

"And whatever the sport, in Italy there is always huge pressure on the coach, the buck stops with him, end of story.

"Some may think that now they've beaten Scotland they feel they have done their bit.

"But I think they will target this match with Wales on Saturday believing it is one they can win.

"In my time out there I was impressed with the standard of their top league, playing as I did at hooker and prop.

"There is still probably too heavy a reliance on foreign players, but they are also developing their own as well.

"The game there is building all the time."

Rogers, 35, was actually loving his spell in the Italian game before the commuting between Cardiff and Rome via Heathrow finally became too much.

He had his own apartment in the capital and was finding the facilities, not to mention the overall standard, as good if not better, than what he became used to in Wales before the game went regional.

"There's no doubt that football dominates over there," he said.

"On Sundays when the Serie A games are played you can't hear anything at times for screams coming from everywhere.

"The main rugby centres are in the north like Treviso and Calvisano.

"Roma were more or less mid-table when I left them.

"But the approach to the game is ultra-professional over there, even though the game is nowhere near as established as it is in the home unions and France.

"The impact on the general public is increasing as well. The Six Nations does produce a good deal of excitement, people do crowd into bars to watch games.

"I was out there during the World Cup as well and it was a big deal, rugby got it's fair share of column inches."

And while Rogers never expected to have to cut short his Italian sojourn when he initially moved there after failing to secure a regional contract in Wales, he has no regrets about the short time he did enjoy.

What's more, he reckons Steve Hansen's men could well find it tougher than they could ever imagine come Saturday.

"It was a great experience for me and a pity that things did not work out," he said.

"I think Italy will offer a huge amount this weekend. I saw them against Ireland and I thought their forward pack in particular was outstanding.

"One thing about that Italian team is that the commitment is there, there is a very strong bond.

"Okay, I can't see them winning, but I would not rule it out completely."